Monster-sized ‘Pacific Rim’ Gets the Best Trailer of the Summer

Movie Talk

mattmcdMay 16, 2013

Warner Bros. Pictures' "Pacific Rim"

Sure, Tony Stark has his pick of mechanized suits of armor, but do any of his stand 250 feet tall?

The latest trailer for "Pacific Rim" was unleashed today online, and to call it big would be an understatement. The preview for this sci-fi action flick literally rises above the competition, making it the most massive -- and dare we say, best -- trailer of the summer.

But why talk about giant robots fighting giant monsters when you can see it for yourself?

It's notable that during a summer of blockbusters that are predominantly based on comic books, sequels, or sequels to movies based on comic books, "Pacific Rim" is a completely original story. Director Guillermo del Toro (Oscar-nominated for 2007's "Pan's Labyrinth") cowrote the screenplay about a dimensional rift that opens deep within the ocean, setting loose enormous, destructive monsters called "Kaiju" -- a Japanese word which literally translates to "strange beast."

After the creatures destroy major coastal cities, humanity responds by building robots as tall as skyscrapers called "Jaegers" (from the German word for "hunter"). The machines require two pilots who connect their minds to function together like the two hemispheres of a brain. The Jaegers and the Kaiju do battle underwater, in the air, and on city streets (del Toro said they recreated several blocks of Hong Kong on a studio backlot just so they could destroy it).

Charlie Hunnam (TV's "Sons of Anarchy") and Rinko Kikuchi (Oscar-nominated for "Babel") are the two star pilots, with Idris Elba ("The Wire") as their inspirational commanding officer. His rallying cry "Today we cancelling the apocalypse!" could be this year's "Today we celebrate our Independence Day!"

What's thrilling about the trailer is that it isn't your typical sci-fi movie action with laser guns blasting away. The battles here are more like MMA-meets-Godzilla, with the robots and monsters hitting, kicking, and generally smashing each other silly. Some of the Kaiju do have special abilities, like the one we see that can shoot out electricity in waves. So the Jaegers do pick up some improvised weapons, leading to the glorious shot where one swings an oil tanker around like a bat and clocks a monster right in the face.

It all looks very impressive on just a computer monitor, but the trailer will really blow you away on the big screen in 3D. The trailer should be attached to "Star Trek Into Darkness," which is in theaters now.

"Pacific Rim" will be melting brains when it hits theaters on July 12.